From vision to action: how EcoZani is turning sustainability goals into reality

A key part of the EcoZani project is the Municipal Circu-Tech Hub (MICTH), which will be established through the renovation of the former railway warehouse. The project aims to turn this unused space into a place for innovation, creative projects and community learning. The centre is meant to be more than just a building. It will grow and change along with the project. Young people will be able to test their ideas, try out circular economy products, organise community events and learn new skills. In early 2025, the EcoZani team began working to make this vision real. In May, the work on MICTH entered an important design and planning phase, and partners started working on transforming the old railway warehouse. Institutions, organizations, and local citizens were involved in these activities to better align the technical plans with circular economy objectives and accessibility needs. The first design workshop, held at the old railway site, presented the first functional layout of the future centre and collected feedback from local stakeholders.

EcoZani also involves cooperation with three transfer cities: Limassol, Cologne and Kyustendil, each of which brings its own expertise in culture, innovation in urban planning and sustainable development. Their participation in the EcoZani project involves learning from each other through visits, sharing information, and solving problems together. In September 2025, Kozani hosted all transfer partners for the first time. Project partners and transfer cities were able to exchange ideas over a two-day period by taking part in workshops, presentations and excursions. Participants were able to see for themselves the site where MICTH will be built, visited the Creative Materials Reuse Center of DIADYMA in Florina and the Fanοs Lakkous tou Maggan cultural association. The event demonstrated that the project focuses on open learning, transparency and accountability. It also showed that online meetings cannot replace the exchange of ideas that takes place during face-to-face meetings.

Earlier, the EcoCarnival Business Challenge competition showed how much the project connects with young people. Forty-five entries brought a wide range of ideas, reflecting different ways of interpreting the 3Z principles in relation to Carnival. The open call targeted young people aged 15–30 and attracted students, recent graduates and young professionals interested in sustainability, culture and entrepreneurship. The submitted proposals ranged from accessible carnival routes, zero-waste costumes, awareness-raising tools, food recovery projects to new ways of  including everyone in cultural events. Ten finalists presented their ideas to the jury,. among which were:

• EcoThreads, a creative initiative that teaches participants how to repurpose old clothes into carnival costumes, shopping bags, jumpers and other items;
• Strata for All – Inclusive Fanos, focused on making the traditional lantern parade more inclusive, SkyView, an AI-powered drone concept with live-streaming capabilities;
• and Carnival Flower, a fragrant product made from floral water.

The winners of the competition’s first round moved into a business acceleration phase with the support from Impact Hub Athens and JOIN4CS, aiming to develop functional prototypes of their ideas by 20xx. Building on the success of the first edition, the second round of the Challenge has already begun,  establishing itself as Kozani’s permanent platform for young innovators .

Carnival, with its history and significance, is now the cultural anchor of the project and, as the first 3Z event in Europe, has the potential to reshape how sustainability and inclusion are embedded in the city’s cultural life. The project also helps people gain skills and knowledge in entrepreneurship and sustainable tourism. At the end of October, the University of Western Macedonia hosted a workshop on financial tools for innovation. The event brought together institutions and experts to present funding opportunities for startups and innovative ideas. Shortly afterwards, a regional workshop on sustainable carnival tourism was held, where local government officials from the region discussed how the 3Z carnival can preserve its cultural roots and be environmentally friendly. Both workshops form part of EcoZani’s capacity-building activities, which aim to equip local institutions and professionals with tools relevant to managing the transition. Throughout 2025, a number of other awareness-raising activities have also been carried out, including presentations at academic events, cooperation with local cultural entities, and information activities related to the broader 3Z transformation.

Transforming ideas into action is never easy. Working with multiple partners, whether they are city officials, universities, businesses or community groups, requires a clear and flexible management approach. In projects such as EcoZani, the purchase of materials must respond to changing project needs, and building plans must meet both technical and social expectations. Even organising activities such as youth mentoring, prototyping, community meetings and MICTH design requires careful planning, as these processes follow different timelines and levels of readiness. However, for EcoZani, these challenges seem to act as something that strengthens the project. The team organises regular meetings, uses inputs from other stakeholders and maintains open communication with all partners. Exchanges with partner cities serve not only to share results, but also to ask questions and improve solutions.

The EcoZani project has far-reaching plans. In the coming years, the city will test the 3Z Carnival concept, aiming for zero waste, zero emissions and zero exclusion in logistics, design and food. The knowledge gained will help to create a sustainable way of managing events in the region. Meanwhile, Circu-Tech Hub is expected to continue growing by building on the project’s existing community-oriented activities and support mechanisms developed during the initial implementation phase. A mentoring programme will help young innovators turn their ideas into real businesses. Social initiatives, participatory activities and a dedicated social platform  will continue to evolve to ensure that the changes in EcoZani are social and cultural, not just environmental. The project has a chance to have a lasting impact by ensuring that, once EU funding ends, Kozani will have the people, skills, infrastructure, and mindset necessary to sustain the changes.

Kozani is at a unique moment. It shows that a city can preserve its culture while creating opportunities for young people, transforming its infrastructure, and building a stronger community. For other cities, the message is clear: sustainable change starts with the courage to try, experiment, engage people, and adapt. EcoZani shows what this looks like in reality and how a city can become a model for a greener and more inclusive future.